Chief Lee has been under fire for his department's handling of the Trayvon Martin deadly shooting in February. Lee, who temporarily stepped down from his post March 22, and had planned to permanently resign.

The suspect, George Zimmerman, was not arrested until a special prosecutor was named to the case.

Commissioner Patty Mahany was one of those who defended Chief Lee. "Chief Lee is paying for the sins of past police officers, police chiefs.”

“He has been here he has been in office 10 month, how do you steer a boat that big mister Mayor?,” she asked.

“How do you steer a boat in ten months to a complete turnaround?” “You don't,” she added.

Two commissioners questioned the fairness of Lee losing his job before the investigation of his department was complete.

Benjamin Crump, a lawyer for Martin's family, criticized the commission for not letting Lee step down.